Means to control printing of signals



Oct 27, 1931- o. J. SUNDSTRAND MEANS TO CONTROL PRINTING OF SIGNALS Filed Dec. 19, 1928 lv vvefiio a Oscar I Shad/5T g wwmw Patented Oct. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OSCAR J. SUNDSTRAND, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T SUNDSTRAND COR- PORA'IION, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE MEANS TO CONTROL PRINTING OF SIGNALS This invention relates particularly, although perhaps not exclusively, to bank bookkeeping machines. In such a machine it is usual to provide signal printing means. Among the signals printed isone to designate a check as a subtracted item. The ledger sheet usually contains two or more check columns. When there is but a single check to be posted, the operator having entered such check in the first check column, ma put the machine w through one or more blan operations in order to move the carriage from column to column until it reaches the deposit column or total column. In such event aminus signal would be printed in the unused check column or columns. The object of the present invention is to provide means to prevent the needless prilnting of such a signal or an analogous signa In the accompanying drawings, I

Figure 1 is a fragmentalelevation ofa machine embodying the features of my invention, looking from the left-hand side of the machine;- w 7 Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 2-'2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental detail view. Although the invention may be embodied in machines of various types, it is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine of the eneral tvne disclosed in the Sundstrand atents Nos. 1,198,487 and 1,583,102, dated Sept. 19, 1916, and May 4, 1926, respectively, and in my application Serial No. 118,628, filed 35 June 26, 1926.

The type bars employed for printing items and totals are not illustrated herein. The signal type bar 3' is mounted for vertical re, ciprocation and may be moved by any preferred means, as, for example, that disclosed in Patent No. 1,583,102. The type bar 3 is arranged to be moved up into any one of: several different positions, depending upon the signal to be printed. In order to; prevent 45 the type bar 3' from being efi'ectivelymoved when no signal is to be printed, I provide a bail comprising a horizontally extending portion 11 and two vertical side portions 12, sa d side portions being pivoted in the ma chine frame at 13 to swing on a horizontal axis. The portion 11 of the bail comprises a flange 14 adapted to lie in the path of a lug 15 on the lower end of the signal type bar 3. The means for swinging the bail 10 to place the flange 14 in or out of position to prevent effective upward movement of the signal type bar comprises a lever pivoted at 16 alongside the keyboard, said lever comprising an arm 17 which is connected by means of a link 18 to the bail 10. An arm 19 rigidly connected to the arm 17 extends forwardly alongsidethev path of reciprocatory movement of the slide bar 72, said slide bar carrying a roller stud 73 which is arranged to engage a p jection 20 on the forward end of the arm 19. The means for controlling the use of the numeral-printing type bars includes a frame 18 which is pivoted at Sand is normally urged forward by spring means 48. On the bail 10 is an upwardly extending arm 21 which stands in front of the frame 48.

The slide bars 72 forms part of the means for restoring the stops at the end of a cycle of operations of the machine. Said bar occupies the position shown in Fig. 1 at the end of each cycle, except when the repeat key (not shown) has been depressed.

When there is no item set up in the keyboard, as is the case when the machine is be ing put through a blank operation, the roller 73 is in its forward position and thus holds the arm 19 depressed against the tension of a spring 21, whereby the bail 10 is held in its forward position where it obstructs the upward movement of the signal type bar 3. The frame 48 is in its rear position during such blank operation until near the end of the return stroke of the handle or main rock shaft (not shown), and thus does not interfere with the obstructing function of the bail 10. It will thus be seen that when the machine is being put through a blank operation, no signals will be printed.

When a total is to be printed, the bar 72 and the frame 48 are in their forward positions. Since it is desired to print a total signal alongside the total, the bail 10 is yieldingly connected to the link 18. The means herein shown for this purpose comprises a flange 22 on the left-hand side of the bail, said flange having an opening 23 through which the rear portion of the link 18 is arranged to slide. Shoulders; 4 and 25 on the link 18 at opposite sides of t e flanges 22 limit relative movement between the link and the flange. A tension spring 26 normally holds the flange 22 against the shoulder 24.

When the machine is in readiness to print a total, the swinging frame 48 is in its forward position, the pressure of said frame against the arm 21 of theibail 10 causing said bail .to be held in its rearward position out of the ath of the lug 15, the flange 22 moving away rom the shoulder-24 against the tension of the spring 26.

It will be seen that I have provided very simple and effective means for preventing the printing of an undesired signal, which means is of such nature that it does not interfere with the printing of the total signal.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an adding machine, the combination of a movable signal type carrier, means normally eifective to prevent movement of said type carrier, a movable member which normally occupies a certain position at the end of a cycle of operations of the machine, and means controlled by said member to disable said movement preventing means.

2. In an adding machine, the combination of a movable signal type carrier, a movable member which normally occupies acertain position at the end of a cycle of operations of the machine, a lever pivoted adjacent to said member, a spring tending to move said lever in one direction, said member when in said normal position holding said lever in, a certain position against the tension of said spring, means adjacent to said type carrier for preventing movement thereof, and a connection between said lever and said movement preventing means for holding said movement preventing means in effective position when said member is in its said normal position.

3. In an adding machine, the combination of a movable signal type carrier, a movable member which normally occupies a certain position at the end of a cycle of operations of the machine, a device adjacent to said member, a spring tending to move said device in one direction, said member when in said normal position holding said device in a certain position against the tension of said spring, means for preventing movement of the type carrier, and a connection'betweefl said device and said movement-preventing means for holding said movement-preventing means in effective position when said member is in its said normal position.

4. In an adding machine, the combination of a movable signal 'type carrier, a movable member which normally occupies a certain position at the end of a cycle of operations of the machine, a lever pivoted adjacent to said member, a spring tending to move said lever in one direction, said member when in said normal position holding said lever in a certain position against the tension of said spring, means adjacent to said type carrier for preventingmovement thereof, a connection between said lever and said movementpreventing means for holding said movement-preventing means in efi'ective position when said member is in its said normal position, and a part which occupies a certain position when a total is to be taken, said part being arranged to disable said movementpreventing means.

5. In an adding machine, the combination of a movable signal type carrier, a movable member which normally occupies a certain position at the end of a cycle of operations of the machine, a device adjacent to said member, a spring tending to move said device in one direction, said member when in said normal position holding said device in a certain position against the tension of said spring, means adjacent to said type carrier for preventing movement thereof, a yielding connection between said device and said movement-preventing means for holding said movement-preventing meansin efiective position when said member is in its said normal position, and a part which occupies a certain position when a to is to be taken, said part being arranged to disable said movement-preventing means.

6. In an adding machine, the combination of a movable signal type carrier, means normally effective to prevent movement of said type carrier, a movable member which normally occupies a certain position at the end of a cycle of operations of the machine, a part which occupies a certain position when a total is to be taken, said member and said part being mutually and independently effective to disable said movement-preventin means.

7. In an adding machine, the com ination of a movable signal type carrier, locking means normally eiiective to prevent movement of said type carrier, and a pair of movable elements, one operable as an incident to the taking of a total and the other operable as an incident to entering an item in said machine and the movement of either of said elements being effective to disable said looking means.

8. In an adding machine the combination of a movable signal type carrier, means operable to prevent movement of said carrier, a. movable member which occupies a certain position at the end of a cycle of opera.- tions of the machine, and a part which is actuated in the taking of a total, said member rendering said movement-preventing means effective at the end of a, cyclic operation of i the machine, actuation of said part in the taking of a total being eifective to disable said movement preventing means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

OSCAR J. SUNDSTRAND. 

